The Practical Feeding

Breastfeeding in a personal choice of every mother. The health benefit of breastfeeding is known to everyone.

Apart from breast milk provides ideal nutrition for infants, it is also beneficial to mothers since breast feeding burn extra calories and help lose pregnancy weight.

Almost every mothers choose to breast feed their babies, however a lot has to face the challenge of doing it. Thus resulting to prematurely discontinuing the breastfeeding.

Some mothers thought that they are not giving enough milk to the babies while breastfeeding and later resort to alternative nipple feeding or bottle feeding.

Some say that is it very painful and that their babies are not enjoying it but felt guilty in deciding to stop breastfeeding.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding is not a “natural behavior” that mothers and their babies have the desire to do breastfeeding.

Rather it is a “learned behavior” that mothers and babies have to learn the easy and proper way of successful breastfeeding.

Every mothers and babies are unique in their way of adopting the process of breastfeeding. Therefore, there is a need for specific guidelines and directions to support mothers and babies for a successful breastfeeding.

Here are some suggested Do’s and Don’ts of breastfeeding:

Do’s

• Teach your baby to “breastfeed” right after giving birth. You can do this by holding your breast steady, compress it and make a pointy shape with your hand.
• Use RAM (rapid arm movement) – bring your baby onto the breast in a swift motion allowing the baby to take the breast as deeply as he can.
• Feed the baby 8-10 times a day. The saying “what goes in must come out” is the very useful in breastfeeding. There should be 6-8 used wet and dirty diapers in a day to make sure that your baby is getting enough milk daily.
• Make sure that your body is always clean. Regular bath and wiping of the breast area before feeding the baby is necessary.
• Eating healthy foods such as green leafy vegetables, broccoli, squash, cauliflower and beans. Fruits like oranges, apple, peaches, berries, melons, bananas, and plums. Whole grains such as brown rice, rye and whole-wheat bread.
• Have a lot of fluid intake. Drinking water, milk or fresh fruit juice than your normal intake will help your body produce more milk.

Don’ts

• Don’t believe that breastfeeding is difficult and that it supposed to hurt. If the baby’s mouth is properly placed, breastfeeding should not hurt.
• Don’t just simply put your breast and stuff into your baby’s mouth. Rather, bring the baby to you and support the baby well by holding him along the spine while breastfeeding.
• Don’t rush to introduce a bottle if possible. Take the chances that you and your baby has to experience and enjoy breastfeeding.
• As much as possible, avoid from including some of these foods on your diet; caffeinated products, chocolate, spicy foods, cinnamon, soy and salty foods. Also avoid drinking alcohol, beer or wine to avoid any alcohol content getting into your milk.
• Don’t give up. Do not get discouraged. At start it may be difficult but with constant practice, a mother will be able to do breastfeeding pain free and the baby will get use to nurse on her mother’s breast comfortably.

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